Passaic River Basin Flood Advisory Commission Report/Status of Recommendations. October 2014 Update

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1 Passaic River Basin Flood Advisory Commission Report/Status of Recommendations October 2014 Update

2 Passaic River Basin Flood Advisory Commission April 2010: By Executive Order, Governor Christie created the Passaic River Basin Flood Advisory Commission (PRBFAC). NJDEP Commissioner Bob Martin, Chair NJSP Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes Assemblyman Scott Rumana Mayor Katy Cole, Pompton Lakes Mayor Mike DiFrancisci, Little Falls Robert Prezant, PhD, Montclair State University John Miller, P.E., CFM January 2011: PRBFAC Report to Governor Released ( Included 15 Recommendations to help to reduce or manage the risk of flooding.

3 Federal and State Floodway and Floodplain Property Acquisitions Recommendation No. 1: The Advisory Commission recommends expanding and expediting floodway property buyouts, The close coordination of the NJDEP and NJOEM to effectively leverage available state Blue Acre funds with FEMA funds should continue to prioritize structures in those areas of the floodplains most susceptible to regular, chronic flooding. State agencies must be mindful of the unpredictability of future flooding given that climate change and potential changes in weather patterns could influence the expansion of flood zones. Update: DEP is working with NJOEM to effectively leverage available state Blue Acre funds with FEMA/HUD funds. Our agencies continue to prioritize structures in those areas of the floodplains most susceptible to regular chronic flooding. NJDEP and NJOEM have identified recent funding opportunities in Wayne and Pompton Lakes.

4 Structure Elevations in Floodplains Recommendation No. 2: NJOEM has requested and the Advisory Commission concurs that New Jersey should fund a mitigation program to provide structure elevation for homes in the floodplain. The Advisory Commission recommends that a new state funded grant and/or low interest loan program be established to effectively leverage available FEMA mitigation funds. Update: NJOEM is coordinating with FEMA and municipalities on home elevation projects. Home elevation projects in flood prone areas should be encouraged if acquisition is not an option to either the homeowner or the municipality. The Passaic River Flood Advisory Commission recommended that $200 million was needed for 2000 residential properties. NJOEM and FEMA continue to work with Little Falls and Pompton Lakes on home elevation projects.

5 USACE Open Space Acquisition and Preservation Recommendation No. 3: NJDEP needs to coordinate with the USACE on the development of a condemnation plan to acquire, preserve and maintain the identified properties. Update: USACE is continuing to work with municipalities on obtaining easements, movement and on eminent domain for private properties. Ultimate goal is acquisition of 1,700 acres of property. The USACE NY District continues to work with US Army Corps Headquarters on approval to move forward with condemnation proceedings on targeted land acquisition.

6 Improved Operation of the Pompton Lakes Dam Floodgates Recommendation No. 4: NJDEP should request the USACE to obtain the services of an independent consultant to undertake a more robust unsteady flow hydraulic model to evaluate the gate operation and downstream flow patterns. Update: AECOM completed an independent hydrologic and hydraulic analysis in April 2012, which indicated no increase to flooding downstream as a result of gate operations and the gate are operating as designed. Additionally, analysis of pre-release voids indicate no benefits downstream. Dawes Highway Peak WSEs are the same Hamburg Turnpike Pompton Lake Dam Gate begins to function Pre Gate WSEs Current Condition WSEs

7 Desnagging & Shoal Dredging Recommendation No. 5: The stewardship of the Passaic River tributaries through desnagging and shoal dredging should become a routine activity, especially targeting areas of river constrictions, such as at bridges and culverts. Ancillary projects such as stream bank stabilization should be conducted to decrease the frequency of tree falls and to interrupt the sediment scouring and deposition cycle. Update: The Department has already disbursed the full $353, grant to the Townships of Pequannock and Wayne, and the Boroughs of Pompton Lakes and Riverdale for the de-snagging and removal of sandbars and debris from the Pompton, Pequannock and Ramapo Rivers. An additional $3 million is currently available to provide grants to local governments for de-snagging and shoal dredging.

8 Feeder Dam Removal Recommendation No. 6: In order to provide some level of flood mitigation and relief to the communities of Pompton Lakes, Wayne and Pequannock, which are situated upstream of the Pompton and Pequannock Feeder Dams, it is recommended that these structures be removed and the dams be permanently taken out of service. Update: The Final feasibility report prepared by Civil Dynamics was completed in December Given the high cost and minimal flood risk reduction benefits, the report recommended maintaining the existing dams and not proceeding with their removal. Staff did meet with the impacted municipalities to convey the findings of the report.

9 State Adoption of National Flood Insurance Program Regulations Recommendation No. 7: The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs should adopt the National Flood Insurance Program regulations in their entirety. State adoption of the NFIP regulations means that state agency requirements would be at a minimum consistent with local flood damage prevention ordinance requirements. Also, the state should provide technical assistance to communities that wish to adopt more stringent flood risk reduction regulatory standards. Update: NJDCA has adopted amendments to the NJ Uniform Construction Code to address flood-resistant construction to be more consistent with NFIP requirements.

10 Expedited DEP Permit Process to allow towns to clear trees and repair river walls and shoals Recommendation No. 8: The NJDEP should adopt flexible regulations to allow towns to quickly permit to clear trees, repair river walls and remove shoals. Update: LURP has a team in place with a dedicated engineering and environmental review person, as well as a dedicated supervisor for all stream cleaning projects in the Passaic River Basin (single point of contact for all stream cleaning projects in the Basin; increased consistency in the application of rules, regulations, guideline and policies in the review of these stream cleaning projects; expedited review of stream cleaning projects in the Basin with a goal of processing most applications within 60 days of receipt of a complete application). Stream Cleaning Guideline were prepared and are available on their website. Pending legislation on waiver of specific requirements is being considered.

11 Improved Effectiveness of County and Local Emergency Response Plans Recommendation No. 9: The NJOEM analysis indicated that further planning and training with the Red Cross for sheltering, planning for flash-flooding particularly in areas such as Woodland Park and Little Falls, and consistent use of the Reverse 911 System by county OEMs to notify the municipal coordinators will improve implementation of the Emergency Operation Plans. Update: NJOEM continue to work with municipalities on training opportunities.

12 Enhanced Passaic River Flood Warning System Recommendation No. 10: The Advisory Commission, assisted by its NJOEM members, has compiled a list of specific future actions, the planning for which is already in progress. The Advisory Commission recognizes the importance of these actions to flood management and response in the Passaic River basin, and therefore recommends an appropriate state effort to ensure their completion. Update: DEP signed a joint funding agreement with USGS for upgrades. All stream gages have been installed and are operational. Rating curves and rating curve extensions have also been established by the USGS.

13 Inundation Mapping Recommendation No. 11: The Advisory Commission supports the NJOEM proposal to contract with the NWS to create inundation maps for any NWS existing forecast point in the Passaic River basin. Update: DEP has signed funding agreements with USGS, USACE and a Flood Risk MAP term contractor for the production of flood inundation mapping at 21 flood gage site locations. Eight (8) inundation mapping libraries have been completed and been posted to the NWS AHPS site. NJDEP is also working at various stages on the development of thirteen (13) additional inundation mapping libraries.

14 Enhanced Public Involvement, Information and Outreach for Flood Response Recommendation No. 12: The Advisory Commission suggests that NJDEP attend regularly scheduled municipal council meetings throughout the Passaic River basin to discuss in those forums the flood issues that are of particular concern to particular towns residents. The Advisory Commission also would like NJDEP to provide informal training for newly elected municipal officials regarding their respective roles and responsibilities in pre- and post-flood activities, including enforcement of their local flood damage prevention ordinances. Update: We continue to meet with the Passaic River Flood Warning Users Group on a quarterly basis. NJDEP has applied for an HMGP planning grant to work with the Nurture Nature Center on public outreach to improve public understanding of flood risk hazards.

15 Reevaluation Request to U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Recommendation No. 13: The NJDEP requested in January 2010 that the USACE initiate a reevaluation of the Passaic River Basin project. At the subsequent outset of the Advisory Commission s deliberations, the NJDEP placed a hold on its request until the Advisory Commission could offer its advice on how the reevaluation could best be used to assist in its recommendations. This section is the Advisory Commission s direction to the NJDEP on how its request to the USACE will best complement the flood mitigation measures that it has proposed. Update: The reevaluation has been completed and included the analysis of levees, floodwalls, bridge and dam modifications, channel modifications, nonstructural measures, Tunnel Diversion, Beatties Dam/Two Bridges improvements, 10-year non-structural and a no action plan. NJDEP has requested that the USACE undertake review of three specific flood risk mitigation alternatives in Phase II.

16 Updated Flood Risk Mapping Recommendation No. 14: The NJDEP should pursue the annual funding from FEMA over the expected four-year period and prioritize the appropriate stream segments in the Passaic River basin. Update: In September 2011, DEP awarded two Flood Risk Map Contracts to AECOM and to URS for updated modeling/mapping of major river and streams within the Passaic River basin in accordance with FEMA grant. The Essex and Bergen County Preliminary FIRM were released in May 2014 and August 2014, respectively. The Passaic and Morris County Preliminary FIRM are scheduled to be released in early 2015.

17 Moratorium on All New Development within the Floodplain Recommendation No. 15: Municipalities within the Passaic River Basin should pursue flood risk reduction changes to their existing Master Plans, their existing zoning ordinances and their existing local flood damage prevention ordinances. The goal of these changes would be to reduce negative impacts from future flooding by guiding development away from the floodplains or by completely phasing out and preventing any future development of these high risk-prone areas. Update: This is a local recommendation on future construction within high flood risk areas.